Archive of Our Own

Summary:

In an alternate universe, Ryland Grace and Simon were never sent to space against their will.
In this story, they meet on Earth.
Once school runs out, Ryland Grace turns summer camp counselor, welcoming kids into the wild. It gives him something to do, and not lose his teacher edge in that terrible classroom gap. Though, as the years pass, he's always felt just a little disconnected from it all. Like something missing.
Simon on the other hand, takes on a part time job, expecting a paycheck in trade for utter seclusion and silent days (which doesn't mind him... too much), and finds himself lost in the sights and the peace of having no distraction.
This is fine until Simon catches sight of cabins being born out of nothing, and a wooden plaque being raised and hooked onto two implanted thick wooden stakes. And one of the guys taking a role in organizing it.
And Ryland consciously makes his way to greet himself to the guy who'll technically be watching directly over them, pausing at the face. He can't help but notice the other fire towers miles away in the distance. This guy will need some socialization; and that is exactly Ryland's excuse to seeing him more in the near future.